《思印氣訣法》

The eighth section of The Method of Sealing Qi with the Mind Seal explains the technique of using the "seal" (a Daoist ritual implement) to consecrate and control mountains, rivers, and seas:

Before performing the ritual, knock your teeth together twelve times while facing the area to be sealed. With the left hand form the "Supervisor's Mudra" (a specific hand gesture), hold your breath, and take nine steps. When sealing mountains and forests, visualize celestial officials leading soldiers clad in robes of various colors, armed with hook-shields, battle-axes, and other weapons, dispersing through the woods like hunters. At this moment, widen your eyes to sweep your gaze across the trees and terrain.

The concrete procedure involves several steps:

1. Inhale through the mouth while making slight swallowing motions, visualizing three "Forest Deities" dressed in red robes and red headscarves within your mouth.

2. Widen your eyes three times, inhale three times, and swallow three times.

3. Imagine these three deities drawing Qi into your abdomen like pulling a net.

4. For mountains, rivers, and seas respectively, perform three visualizations, five inhalations, and three swallowings.

5. After completing nine swallowings in total, recite incantations invoking the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions and the Three Officials (Heavenly, Earthly, and Water Officials) toward the ritual seal.

6. Strengthen the seal using the Yellow Spirit Yuezhang talisman and the prohibitions of the twelve two-hour periods.

This seal possesses tremendous power: sealing mountains makes them crumble, sealing malevolence dispels it, sealing ghosts destroys them, and sealing rebellion causes it to perish. It can also suppress bandits, armed conflicts, epidemics, and mountain outlaws. During the ritual, hold the seal in your left hand, suspend breathing twenty times, then disperse malignant Qi by exhaling toward the four directions, draw the character for "well" (井) on the ground, and depart.

Next, visualize five groups of deities within the five viscera:

• In the liver: three deities in blue robes with red scarves, bearing weapons
• In the heart: three deities in red robes with red scarves, bearing weapons
• In the lungs: three deities in white robes with red scarves, bearing weapons
• In the spleen: three deities in yellow robes with red scarves, bearing weapons
• In the kidneys: three deities in black robes with red scarves, bearing weapons

Conclude by looking up at the mountain three times to complete the ceremony. In daily practice, the seal may be hung in government offices or placed before stoves or beside wells. This method also serves to:

• Prevent servants from fleeing or horses from straying (following the seal's traces retrieves them, opposing the seal drives them away)
• Ward off lightning strikes (first inhale thunder Qi to seal within the imprint, then seal the four corners of the dwelling)
• Deflect attacks (seal the opponent's vital points)
• Prevent epidemics (apply cinnabar to the seal's teeth and affix it above doorways)

Note: Hook-shields and battle-axes are ancient weapons; Yellow Spirit Yuezhang is a commonly used Daoist talismanic seal; visualization (cunxiang) refers to Daoist contemplative practices.

This scripture records several Daoist exorcism and spirit-subduing ritual techniques, which I will explain section by section:

1. When performing rituals in temples, one must form the "Supervisor's Hand Seal" (a specific Daoist mudra), hold the breath, and draw Qi from the four directions. After completing the worship of temple deities, form another seal with the teeth and employ the "Five You Ghost Expulsion Method" (a ghost-banishing technique). When encountering rocks or large trees that need removal, first dig a pit large enough for the ritual seal, fill its center with a mixture of hearth soil and wine, hold the breath for twelve cycles (one inhalation-exhalation counts as one cycle), perform the "Yu Steps" (a Daoist ritual pacing pattern resembling Yu the Great's footsteps), form the seal, and recite incantations to request Lord Lao (deified Laozi) to dispatch celestial troops for subduing various spirits.

2. When dealing with malevolent individuals or rebellious officials, upon seeing the target, guide twelve Qi channels from the left side combined with Qi from the right, point the ritual seal toward them, advance three steps while holding the breath three times. Close the eyes to concentrate the Shen (spirit) while reciting incantations, invoking the protection of heaven, earth, sun, moon, and stars to bring retribution upon the evildoer.

3. For door-sealing ghost expulsion: create a red clay block the size of the ritual seal, form the seal toward the household in the directions corresponding to the four musical notes (Shang, Jue, Zhi, Yu from the ancient pentatonic scale), perform Yu Steps while writing characters on the door, and recite outward-facing incantations. These lengthy incantations primarily invoke various deities (including local earth gods, the Three Origins and Four Beginnings) to protect the household and dispel misfortunes.

4. For dispelling underworld calamities: face the direction of misfortune, call the name of the day's presiding deity three times, hold the breath to its limit, form the seal toward the "Celestial Gate" (northwest direction), cross the left foot over the right, turn and advance two steps, then invoke three times the sacred names including "The Supreme Ultimate Great Dao of the Most High."

These techniques all emphasize the coordinated use of specific breathing methods (breath retention), footwork (Yu Steps), hand seals, and incantations, demonstrating the Daoist ritual emphasis on harmonizing "form, Qi, and Shen." The text mentions "Tiangang" (the Big Dipper constellation), "Five You" (referring to five types of spirits), and "Yu Steps" (traditionally believed to originate from Yu the Great's flood control footsteps).

This scripture documents a Daoist talismanic technique called the "Method of Qi Seal Contemplation," primarily used for exorcism, healing, and household protection. Here's a detailed explanation of the procedures:

【Invoking Divine Protection】

After petitioning the "Celestial Master (Tianshi) of the Jade Emperor's Qi Sovereign," practitioners must follow celestial ordinances. Utilizing the power of the Four Seasons and Five Phases (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water), this method suppresses malevolent forces, preventing spirits and demons from causing disturbances. The incantation phrase "Swiftly, swiftly, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances" (a common Daoist command formula) enhances the ritual's efficacy.

【Seal Consecration Ritual】

At sacred mountains, rivers, or temples, the practitioner must loosen their hair and perform the "Yu Steps" (the legendary flood-controlling footsteps of Emperor Yu) while circling the site three times. After holding the breath for twenty-four cycles, gaze skyward to witness the descent of a divine being—ten thousand zhang tall, clad in black with a red headscarf—holding the "Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors Talisman." Collect local soil to cover the ritual seal, cross the left foot over the right, and stamp nine times in this position.

【Exorcism and Temple Protection】

Point the seal toward the direction of the haunting, then scatter soil twenty paces beyond the temple entrance. After three breath-holding cycles, recite facing left: "Most High Lord Lao (the supreme Daoist deity) to my left, Mysterious Celestial Emperor to my right—swiftly capture these spirits!" For distant locations, carry the seal against one's chest three times while breath-holding and invoking the power of the Big Dipper and the Three Platforms constellation to subdue ghosts.

【Healing Application】

During epidemics, leave the seal exposed on an altar overnight. At dawn, wash it with consecrated water and apply cinnabar powder. Envision flames consuming the afflicted household while approaching; upon arrival, visualize kidney Qi (vital energy) transforming into water to extinguish the fire. During treatment, press the left hand over the patient's heart while chanting, cross the feet to circulate Qi, and finally imprint the seal on the forehead.

【Additional Uses】

1. Hearth purification: Place the seal with white paper on the stove, position clean water before it, hold breath three times, then imprint and depart.

2. Travel protection: Dry sediment from a well bottom, imprint eastward nine times at dawn, then return the soil to the well.

3. Grave pacification: Apply cinnabar to the seal, imprint on white silk, and enclose in tomb passages and bedposts.

4. Household discord: Use iron implements with the seal (text fragmentary).

These rituals emphasize Daoist cultivation techniques like "breath-holding" (suspended breathing with focused intent) and visualization, using the seal as a conduit for divine power. Note that "swiftly, swiftly, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances" is a specialized command phrase demanding immediate execution.

This scripture describes several methods using seals (Daoist ritual implements) and specific ceremonies to ward off evil and avert disasters:

1. Hearth Exorcism Method:

• Each person prepares two seals and buries them in the hearth, with the seals oriented toward the "Wang" position (likely referring to the Hearth God or a specific direction)
• At a spot three feet away from the latrine, imprint the seals on a square earthen brick measuring one chi (about 1/3 meter), with the seal inscriptions facing the "Wang" direction

2. Fire Prevention Ritual:

• For households frequently suffering fires, use a wooden board measuring 1.2 chi long and 0.7 chi wide
• Inscribe with cinnabar the characters "元官考生君天帝精鬼神" and hang it before the latrine to ensure safety

3. Epidemic Prevention Method:

• During plague outbreaks, take twelve sections of green bamboo (each 3.3 cun long) and soak them in a well overnight
• The next day, soak the bamboo sections with three sheng of white rice and three sheng of wine for another night
• At dawn on the third day, each person drinks one ge (about 180ml) of this medicinal wine, to be performed on a "Wang day" (an auspicious date)

4. Flood Prevention Technique:

• If female family members encounter flood disasters, have the household separate temporarily
• On a Tiangang day (a special Daoist date), draw one sheng of well water (the first bucket drawn at dawn)
• After bowing to the "Wang" position, immerse the seal in the water while loosening one's hair to face east
• Stir the water three times with the left hand while controlling the hair with the right foot and retreating twenty-four steps
• Finally, pour the water secretly into the hearth without anyone knowing

Note: The frequent mention of "Wang" likely refers to a directional deity or the Hearth God, serving as an important reference point in Daoist rituals. These methods combine elements of Daoist magic including talismanic seals, date selection, and directional practices, reflecting ancient beliefs in averting disasters through specific ceremonial practices.